Elastic-fluid turbine.



v IPATENTED JULY 7, 1903., L. WILSON. ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE.

- APPLICATION nun JAN. a0, 1903. no noun.

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ill/i THE-NORRIS PETERS co. Pam-ammo mew 'PATENTED JULY 7, 1903. L.WILSON.

ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. so, 1903.

'THE nonms PETER! co, wonxu'mcn wash-("407cm o, c.

with fixed blades or alternately with other prompt removal of suchliquid and to prevent itsfurther friction with the moving partsot'troughs are separated from each otherwhen of the turbine, theclearance-space between UNITED STATES Patented July '7, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE;

LIDA witsou, or BRooKLiimnEw YORK.

LAsTlo-Fruio TURBINE.

, srnicrnrcarron forming part of Letters Patent No. 733,105, t me July)7, 903.

Application filed January 30; 1903.

T0 on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LIDA WILSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pierrepont I-Iouse, Montague street, Brooklyn, county ofKings, State of New York, have invented certain new and'usefulImprovements in Elastic Fluid Turbines, fully described and repreaccompanying drawings, forming a part of the'same. s

The present invention relates to improvements in turbines operated bysteam or other gaseous elastic fluid, wherebyliquid occurring l in theturbine may readily be removed therefrom and whereby the gaseous elasticfluid may be maintained at high pressure (even when being used atreduced volume) until it is discharged fromthe nozzles upon the bladesof the turbine.

For turbines having moving blades liquid intermeshed between thesecauses great fries tion, especially if arranged in alternate seriesmoving blades running in a reverse direction 5 and this inventionprovides means for the the turbine. I- eflect this by the following-idescribed appliances: Between the fixed blades (when such exist in theturbines) and themoving blades and (when there are no fixed blades)between the moving blades themselves a clearance-space provided throughwhich the-liquid may be thrown outward in the direction of the outercasing by the centrifugal action of the ,moving blades. The liquid soejected would upon striking the caseing be reflected back onto themoving blades unless caught and removed from the turbine. For thispurpose I provide a trough located in a chamber around each series ofthe moving blades between them and the outer casing to receive thedischarged liquid. These there are fixed blades in the turbine by therings which attach the fixed blades to the casing, or in case all theblades revolve, by rings extending between each series of moving bladesfor a short distance toward the center the moving blades beingsufflciently enlarged parts of the turbine.

ingly-reduced efficiency.

for such distance to allow space for such Serial No. 141.159. (Nomodel.)

chambers, whence it is removed through pipes to suitable traps whichpermit the exit of the liquid, but not of gas, (such as ste'a1n,) sothat any hot gas (such as steam) which passes with the liquid to thechamber through the clearancespace between the respective blades cannotescape from the turbine-casing with the'liqnid, but formsaheatingjacketaround the moving blades and helps to equalize the expansion of theouter with that of the inner The fixed blades and other stationary partsof the turbine may be provided with water-lute joints where desiredaround the shaft and other moving parts of t the turbine.

In turbines operated by steam or other gaseous elastic fluid it isdesirableto regulate the supply of such motive fluid in proportion tothe workto' be done from time to time. If this is effected by throttlingoi the gaseous motive fluid by the main supply-valve, it

reaches the turbine-blades much expanded at greatly-reduced pressure andcorrespond- It is therefore desirable to throttle the gaseous motivefluid in the nozzle bywhich it enters the turbine as near to their innerorifices adjacent to the turbine-blades as possible, so that thepressure may be fully maintained (even when the volume delivered to theblades is reduced) up to the said orifices, which should be so situatedthat the gaseous motive fluid has the shortest possible distance totravel therefrom and in which to expand itself before its primary impactupon the turbine-blades. I eifect this by inserting a rotatablethrottle-valve of special construction in each nozzle situated as closeto the inner orifice adjacent to the valve extending through a suitablestuffingboX to the outside of the turbine and all the shanks connectedto be actuated simultaneously by suitable gearing, which may be operated(as preferred) by hand or automatically blades as possible, the shank ofeach throttleby a governor of any convenient type. The

drawings illustrate the throttle-valves placed in a series of nozzlesleading from the gaseousmotive-fluid-supply chamber to theturbineblades. On the throttle-valve shanks outside the turbine arepinions actuated by teeth on a ring surrounding the casing, this ringbeing actuated by suitable gearing moved by the governor or by hand whenpreferred.

My invention will be understood by reference to the annexed drawings, inwhich-- Figure 1 is aside elevation in section at the centerline wherehatched of a turbine employing my improvements. Fig. 2 is an endelevation of the turbine casing with the parts broken away where hatchedinto sections at various planes, the portion between lines 1 and 2 beingin section on line 1 2 in Fig. 1, the portion between lines 2 and 3being in section on line 2 3 in Fig. 1, the portion between lines 3 and4 and 5 and 6 being in section at the end of the drum, and the portionbetween lines 4 and 5 being in section on line 4 5 in Fig. 1'. Fig. 3 isa section on line 7 '7 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side View, and Fig. 5 across-section near the top end, of one of the nozzle-valves. Figs. 3 to5 are 011 alarge scale.

A designates the bed-plate, and B the pedestals for the shaft B of theturbine-drum D. The drum is carried by the shaft and has attached to ita series of wheels 6, having radial impact-blades e and rotated withinthe easing formed of the shell E and heads F F.

The head F is formed with an annular motivefluid chamber G, from whichnozzles a extend nearly to the impact-blades e on the first wheel e. Themotive-fluid chamber is supplied with motive -fluid by one or more pipesG. Each wheel, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is formed with a series ofradial blades 6, the spaces 6 between the blades forming channelsthrough which the motive fluid passes from one side and direct itbackwardly from the opposite side. -The wheels are spaced apart upon theshell of the drum sufficiently to admit intermediate flat rings f, whichare attached to the casing E and are formed with blades f, adjacent tothe blades 6, the faces of the blades f being opposed reversely to thefaces of the blades a, so as to receivethe backward current of motivefluid and discharge it again forwardly upon the blades of the succeedingwheel e. The nozzles a are extended radially at suitable intervals andare tapered in cross-section and inclined from the chamber G to theiroutlets to deliver the motive fluid in a forward direction upon theblades 0. A space is provided between the periphery of each wheel andthe casing to form a chamber 1 between the adjacent fiat rings f. Aclearance-space g is formed between each of the rings and wheels toperrhit the escape of liquid which may be condensed between the blades,and an annular trough h is attached to the casing within the chamber Iby a central plate It to receive the liquid which is discharged from thewheels and prevent it from falling back again upon the wheels. Thechamber I, ex-

isting between flat rings f, serves in the lower to said corner.

boxes 0 for the stems.

half of the casing to lead the liquid to its lowest point, where adischarge-pipe iconducts the liquid to a trap j. One of the traps isshown for illustration in'Fig. 2. Seven of the wheels 6 are shown uponthe drum in Fig. 1, and the motive fluidis therefore expanded repeatedlyin passing from one wheel to another through the blades of thestationary ring f. The rings f extend from the casing inwardly, close tobut not in contact with the shell I) of the drum, and thus divide theinterior of the easing into separate chambers, each of which is trappedseparately by the construction described, so that condensed liquid isnot only discharged from the bottom without permitting gas to escape,but communication between th e chambers I, surrounding the severalwheels, is prevented. The flat rings f thus form partitions whichprevent the motive fluid in one of the chambers I from communicatingwith the motive fluid in any of the other chambers I, and the reductionof pressure, therefore, takes place by the expansion of the motive fluidin passing through the blades .2 and f The casin g contains anexhaust-chamber F at the last of the series of wheels, into which theexhaust-steam is delivered and discharged therefrom by any suitableoutlet, as the pipe H in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows several of the nozzles a, having enlarged inlets from thechamber G, the illclination of the nozzle to the side of the wheel 6forming a sharp corner at one side of the nozzles outlet, opposite towhich a sectoral valve plug 0 is fitted in a sectoral groove formedalong the side of the nozzle opposite The valve in cross-section is asector of a circle and is fitted to the sectoral groove, so as to lieflush with one side of the nozzle when full opening of the'latter isdesired. The valve is so located that when the edge nearest to theoutlet of the nozzle is turned inwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, it movestoward the sharp corner at the opposite side of the nozzles outlet, andthus contracts the passage directly adjacent to the delivery-point,where the motive fluid is discharged upon the blades 6. Thisconstruction is adapted to prevent the expansion and consequent loss ofpressure in the motive fluid when throttled at a distance before it isdischarged upon the first rotating wheel, and this effect is produced byemploying the rotating valve-plugs and locating them opposite to thesharp corner at the outlet of the nozzle, where they may operate at theactual delivery-point. The stems c of the valves are of cylindrical formand are extended radially outward through the casing, which is providedwith stuffing- Beyond the stuffingboxes a toothed pinion J is applied toeach of the stems and meshes with an annular ring-gear K. The ring-gearis broken away in Fig. 2 to expose one of the pinions and is shown inFig. 1 fitted to a circular seat upon the left-hand end of the shell E,upon which it may be moved to turn the pinions. Bearings Z are attachedto the shell E and support a shaftm anda worm n, a section of teeth upona periphery of the ring-gear. A hand-wheel n upon the shaft m enablesthe operator to turn the ring-gear and adjust all of the valves 0 withinthe nozzles simultaneously. The heads F are shown providedwithlute-joints applied to the shaft 13 where'it passes through theheads. Such joint furnishes a means between the stationary and revolvingparts of turbines to prevent the escape of fluid, while avoiding thefriction and heat engendered by a closely-fitting packing. Thelute-joint'is composed of a series of rings and intermediate groovesupon one surface and corresponding rings and intermediate grooves uponthe other surface, the opposing rings and grooves intermeshing with oneanother nearly but'not quite in contact, so that fluid between suchrings and grooves renders them fluid-tight by their centrifugal actionas they revolve interm eshed with one another. A ring P upon the shaft13 is shown providedwith such rings and grooves, and the head F isprovided with an annular chambered casting having similar rings andgrooves, the chamber being supplied with water under pressure by a pipeg, which water is delivered from the chamber between the rings bysuitable passages, so as to lubricate the moving parts. The centrifugalforce generated by the rotating rings throwsthe fluid forcibly into thel opposed grooves, and thus forms a fluid-tight as, for instance, theinner 4 rings around the shaft joint which prevents the escape of anyfluid from the casin g, while the moving surfaces are fully lubricated.Such apackingof luted rings and grooves may be applied to the junctionof any of the moving and stationary partsedge of the rings f and theadjacent surface of the drum D. It will be readily seen that thepressure within the casing tends to discharge through the luteany liquidthat may be carried by the motor fluid, and where such liquid sufficesto lubricate the rings the supply of liquid through the pipe q would notbe required.

It will be observed that the blades carried by the drum are formedbetween a hub and felly, permitting each wheel to be made of cast metalin one piece and bored to fit upon the drum'and secured thereto by anyusual means. If made of cast metal, a metal tire or clamping-band (shownat t in Fig. 1) is preferably shrunk upon the felly to strengthen thewheel. The rings f, which contain the reversing-blades f, are of similarconstruction, embracng an inner hub and an outer annulus, to both ofwhich the blades f are at tached, and the outer annulus attached to thecasing E. The cross-section of the blades 6 and f is clearly shown inFig. 3 adapted to throw the current of motor fluid alternately inopposite directions to make impact with the opposing surfaces of theblades 6 in the most effective manner. The blades may be which mesheswith in the several series of fixed strengthened by being connectedcircularly at intermediate points between the hub and felly.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what is claimedherein is- I 1. A turbine having moving blades, and opposed fixed bladesto reverse the motion of the motive fluid, with a clearance'spacebetween the respective sets of blades, a casing inclosing the whole, anda trough supported inside the casing surrounding the saidclearance-space to catch the liquid discharged from the clearance-space.

2. A turbine having a series of moving wheels formed with .blades, suchwheels spaced at intervals, a casing inclosing such wheels, interveningrings fixed to the casing between the said wheels with clearance-spacebetween such rings and wheels, the rings hav ing opposed blades forreversing the motive fluid and forming chambers within the casing aroundsaid wheels, and a trough supported in each chamber surrounding eachwheel to catch the liquid discharged from such clearance-space, a pipefor drawing the liquid from the said chamber, and atrap connected withsuch pipe to prevent the escape of gas therefrom.

3. In a turbine, the combination, with several series of moving bladesarranged at intervals, and a said blades, of rings attached to thecasing extending inwardly between the respective series of movingblades, the said rings supporting stationary blades between therespective series of moving blades, witha clearancespace between suchrespective series, the.

gaseous motive fluid expanding progressively and moving blades andbecoming gradually reduced in pressure in its progress through saidsuccessive series of blades, troughs in the chambers between the ringsto guide, receive and transmit the liquid from the clearance-spaces, apipe from each chamber to draw the liquid from the same and a separatetrap upon each of the said pipes to discharge the liquid withoutpermitting the gaseous motive fluid to pass out.

4:. In a turbine, the combination, with blades carried therein, and acasing inclosing them, of nozzles to deliver the motive fluid upon theblades, within the casing, rotatable valves inserted across the nozzlesnear their outlets and adapted when turned to contract the area of thenozzles directly adjacent to the said blades, a ring-gear encircling thecasing, a pinion upon each valve-stem outside the casing and meshingwith such ringgear, and means for turning the ring-gear to adjust thevalves simultaneously.

5. A turbine having a drum provided with and supporting a series ofwheels, each comprising a hub, felly and intermediate blades gas-tightcasing surround ngof suitable shape to cause the motive fluid totraverse laterally through the wheel and to deflect it backwardly, and aclamping-band applied outside of the felly to hold the wheel firmlytogether.

6. The combination of a turbine, of a drum provided with and supportingseries of spaced moving wheels each comprising a hub, felly,clamping-band and intermediate blades, of suitable shape to cause themotive fluid to traverse laterally through the wheel,and to deflect itbackwardly, a casing surrounding the wheels, stationary rings attachedto the casing between the wheels, and having passages of suitable shapeto cause the motive fluid to traverse laterally through them and directit forwardly, clearance-spaces between each wheel and the adjacentrings, a chamber containing a trough around each moving wheel betweenits periphery and the casing, ineans to removeliquid from each chamberseparately but not to permit gas to pass out with such liquid, nozzlesprovided with rotatable valve plugs near their orifices, the valvesbeing arranged to be turned simultaneously by suitable gearing, lutedrings and L grooves to form fluid-tight joints where desired betweenstationary and moving parts of the turbine, all provided, constructedand combined in the same turbine, as and for the purposes andsubstantially as herein described.

'7. The combination in a turbine, of a drum provided with and supportingseries of spaced moving wheels each comprising a hub, felly,clamping-band and intermediate blades of suitable shape to cause themotive fluid to traverse laterally through the wheel and to deflect itonto the adjacent. moving wheel, a casing surrounding the wheels,stationary rings attached to the casing and extending inwardly for ashort distance therefrom between each series of moving wheels,clearance-spaces between each moving wheel and its adjacent movingwheels, a chamber containing a trough around each moving wheel betweenits periphery and the casing, the chambers being separated by thestationary rings attached to the casing extending inwardly for a shortdistance between the moving wheels, means to remove liquid from eachchamber separately but not to permit gas to pass out with such liquid,nozzles provided with rotatable valve-plugs near their orifices, thevalves being'arranged to be turned simultaneously by suitable gearing,luted rings and grooves to form fluid-tight joints where desired betweenstationary and moving parts of the turbine, all provided, constructedand combined in the same turbines, as and for the purposes andsubstantially as herein described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

LIDA VILSON.

\Vitnesses THOS. F. J. KELLY, R. W. Wool).

